WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Senior Michaella Mahoney (Shrewsbury, MA) tossed a six-hitter and slugged a three-run homer, and freshman Carolyn Hassett (Charlton, MA) was 3-for-3 with three RBI as second-seeded Worcester State cruised to a 7-0 triumph over fourth-seeded Bridgewater State in the winner's bracket game of the MASCAC softball tournament on Saturday, May 7.
The Lancers (27-9) will play in Sunday's championship game vs. No. 1 seed Westfield State, which pitched its way through the loser's bracket with 1-0 and 2-0 victories over Salem and Bridgewater, respectively, on Saturday. The championship game is 12:00 Sunday at Westfield State with an if necessary game to immediately follow.
The Lancers, who are making their first-ever conference championship game appearance, lost to the Westfield, 3-0 and 10-1 during the regular season. But Worcester and Westfield shared the conference regular season championship with 12-2 records.
Mahoney (15-2) was solid as she struck out eight and walked just two batters in her seven innings of work. The shutout was her seventh of the season and 16th of her career.
Worcester State scored five times in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by Maloney's towering three-run homer to straightaway centerfield, her seventh circuit shot this season. Junior Jaime Jacobs (Billerica, MA) followed with a sacrifice fly and Hassett had an RBI single.
The Lancers added to their lead in the third on a two-run triple by Hassett.
Bridgewater sophomore Meghan Dunn (Colchester, CT) came into the game in the first inning in relief of senior Tracy Sanko (Windsor, CT). Dunn allowed two runs while scattering five hits.
Sanko (5-11) walked one and struck out no one while Dunn fanned a pair and issued no free passes.
The Bears threatened to break up the shutout bid in the fifth, sixth and seventh frames, but stranded four in scoring position. Hassett came through in the clutch for the Lancers in the sixth when she gunned down a runner for the final out.
Hassett was Worcester State's only multi-hitter out of the nine-hole, while sophomore Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, MA) and classmate Brianna Strecker (Waterford, CT) were both 2 for 3 for the Bears.
The Blue and Gold only out-hit Bridgewater State, 7-6.